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When Sheffield Wednesday announced the signing of Lucas Joao from Portuguese side Nacional in 2015, expectations were high amongst the club’s supporters about the impact he could have at Hillsborough.

Yet despite enjoying a bright start to his career at Owls in which he scored three goals in his first four fixtures, the forward only managed to produce on a sporadic basis for his new side as he was only able to add a further three to his tally in his debut season.

After an injury hit 2016/17 campaign, the Portuguese forward managed to fire in nine goals in 2018 and backed it up by finding the back of the net on 10 occasions this year.

However, despite being firmly part of Steve Bruce’s plans for the foreseeable future, it is clear that Joao will need to make the step up next season if he is to achieve his dream of reaching the Premier League with Wednesday.

Speaking to Portuguese news outlet O Jogo (as quoted by the Star) about his time at Hillsborough, the 25-year-old admitted: “In this club we have everything, players and technical teams of great quality.

“I believe that with work and a lot of luck things will happen.

“The Premier League is close and it was one of the reasons that led me to England.
I don’t want to leave here without realising this desire.”
With Joao expected to face stiff competition for a starting role under Bruce during the 2019/20 campaign from the likes of Fernando Forestieri and Steven Fletcher, it is clear that he will need to improve on his consistency if he wants to lead the line for the Owls.
Although he is an undeniably talented player, the forward does have a habit of drifting in and out of games for Wednesday which is something he must curb over the coming months.
What do you think Owls fans? Can Joao make the step up for your side next season? Are you confident that your club can launch a sustained push for promotion under Bruce? Let us know below.

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In an exchange of words detailed by the Express, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has mocked Pep Guardiola for his comments regarding the Champions League and the Premier League.

After his Manchester City side were knocked out of the famous competition by Spurs in April, the Spaniard said: “I know people say I came here to win the Champions League, but I didn’t come here to win the Champions League, honestly.

“I have said many times the Premier League, for me, is the most important title, showing every three days that you are there. Being there every time sends out a good message.”

Luis Suarez certainly had no qualms about celebrating against his former employers in the video below…

Having been notified about Guardiola’s comments in a press conference of his own ahead of the Champions League final, Klopp replied: “Pep has to say that as he hasn’t been in the Champions League final for a while.”

As much as the supporters love him, that is fairly childish from the former Borussia Dortmund boss.

Winning the Premier League title over the course of a tiring 38-game campaign in one of the hardest divisions in world football – without a winter break as well – is up there with the hardest tasks in football.

Of course, the Champions League is also extremely difficult to win. However, in that competition, you play just 13 games in which you can still progress even if you’re not at your best – both finalists in Liverpool and Tottenham almost went out at the group stage.

There is no chance of salvation in the Premier League if you slip up like that, not these days anyway. The Reds barely put a foot wrong, losing just a single game, but they couldn’t manage to win the title.

Klopp is one of football’s good guys and it is hard to dislike him, but he shouldn’t be speaking on this topic as if he is superior to Guardiola in the Champions League.

The former Barcelona boss has lifted the famous old trophy twice in his managerial career, whereas Klopp has never won it; his achievements in leading Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool to the final against all odds are impressive, but he should refrain from calling out Guardiola until he tastes success in Europe too.

West Ham United look set to show everyone how ambitious they are planning to be this summer!

According to a report by French outlet Soccer Link (yeah, we’ll admit we’ve never heard of them either), the Hammers are thought to have made an offer to sign Lorient’s Alexis Claude-Maurice. That might not sound like a player worthy of the ambitious tag, but hear us out.

They also claim that Arsenal have had an offer of €10million (£8.8m) already turned down by the Ligue 2 outfit, so whether West Ham have bid any higher than that remains to be seen.

The Gunners are not the only club to have shown an interest in the 20-year-old either, with the likes of Red Bull Leipzig, Olympique de Lyonnais, LOSC Lille, AS Monaco and Paris Saint Germain all thought to be prepared to try and prise him away from Lorient this summer.

And, having hit 14 goals in 35 Ligue 2 matches for FC Lorient this term, it is hardly a surprise to see a number of high-profile clubs compete for Claude-Maurice’s signature.

That is an attractive list of potential clubs to choose from, and the fact that West Ham have decided to enter their own name alongside them to try and sign him shows real intent and ambition.

14 goals is impressive going for the youngster, however, what is more remarkable is the fact that he mainly operates as a left-sided winger.

Manuel Pellegrini could do with a young talent like him on the left, whilst Claude-Maurice would also have the opportunity to get regular playing time and the chance to develop to a high standard at the London Stadium, arguably more so than any of the other clubs mentioned – especially in terms of minutes on the field.

West Ham fans, do you think Claude-Maurice would be a good addition at the club? Let us know your thoughts below!

[ad_pod ]If you were asked to name one model professional in the modern footballing era, surely the name James Milner springs to mind.The 33-year-old is still an ever-present figure at the top level of the game, managing to stay injury-free throughout the entirety of the 2018/19 campaign apart from a 12-day absence in October due to a hamstring strain.Milner is perhaps one of the most durable, energetic players in Jurgen Klopp’s entire squad, whilst his vast professionalism enables him to cover competently at both full-back positions.But just how durable is the former England international?How did Mane score THAT goal against Bayern last week? Did he dazzle them with Firmino’s teeth? 442oons speculate in the video below…Well, one stat that cropped up on Twitter speaks volumes about how well Milner has looked after himself, as well as emphasising how effective he has been since the early days of his career.

Back in 2002, a then 16-year-old Milner netted his second goal in three days during the festive period with a well-taken strike against Chelsea, which handed his boyhood club Leeds a 2-0 win over the Blues – the strike came just days after he netted against Sunderland on Boxing Day.

In that 2-0 win, Milner came up against World Cup winner Marcel Desailly, who was part of the 1998 tournament with France.

Fast forward 17 years, and the Leeds academy graduate is still doing the business against one of France’s latest World Cup winners, Kylian Mbappe.

Milner scored home and away against Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain side in the Champions League this season, a competition that he has since gone on to win as Liverpool recorded a 2-0 win over Tottenham in the final.

Remarkably, Mbappe was born 30 years after Desailly, showing just how long Milner has been competing at the top level of football as well as being an instrumental player in games too.

Intriguingly, he is showing no signs of slowing down either with Liverpool set to offer him a new contract.

A real engine of the game.

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West Ham United striker Marko Arnautovic has revealed that he dreams of joining a club who play in the Champions League, per Austrian outlet Krone.

What’s the word?

The striker attempted to leave the Hammers in January, flirting with a move to the Chinese Super League.

He eventually signed a new contract that contains a £45m release clause and, in recent days, the Austria international has been linked with Inter Milan.

And he has now revealed that, while he has a contract in east London, he still harbours hopes of a move to a club playing in Europe’s elite club competition.

He said: “Of course I’m attracted to the Champions League, no matter where.

“But that’s what every footballer will say. I’m very happy in the Premier League, my tendency is not to call my brother (his agent) and say, ‘please get me out of West Ham right now’.”

He added: “Nobody called me, my brother did not call me either, the newspapers like to put my name in the mouth when it comes to transfers. Maybe I’m on a list, but there is nothing concrete, and I have a contract with West Ham.”

Alarm bells

Alarm bells should be ringing at West Ham after their star needlessly spoke of his attraction to Champions League football.

This could be the start of a saga at the London Stadium, particularly given Arnautovic’s history.

The fact that he almost left in January was bad enough but, following that, he endured a major dip in form and went 11 games without a goal.

If that is any indication, these words spell trouble.

A move away from the club is probably what Arnautovic needs, and he is right to be setting his sights on the Champions League, but the Hammers could do without his sweeping statements which continue to disrupt the club.

If he really wants to attract suitors, he needs to get his head down and ensure that, from next season, regardless of his club, he has the correct mentality.

As it is, that does not appear to be the case.

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West Ham United are interested in signing Celta Vigo midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, per The Guardian, a player who could afford the club the potential to change the way they play.

On the chalkboard

Lobotka is a defensive midfield player and the Hammers are said to have indicated they are willing to pay £30m to secure his signature.

A Slovakia international, he has been with Celta Vigo since 2017 and has made 73 appearances for the club.

The 24-year-old, per WhoScored, is a remarkably efficient passer of the ball, averaging 45.3 passes per game with an accuracy of 89.2%.

The Guardian report claims he has been compared with Real Madrid’s world-class star Luka Modric, such is his command of the ball, while he also averages a dribble per game, along with 0.8 interceptions and one tackle.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini is keen to sign a new defensive midfielder to partner with Declan Rice, and bringing in Lobotka would tick that box while allowing the Hammers greater attacking freedom in the final third.

Attacking transformation

Lobotka rarely loses the ball and when he has it, he’s fantastic at finding a team-mate with it.

If he is paired with Rice in midfield, Pellegrini will have the opportunity to field his attackers in something approaching a laissez-faire formation, giving the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson the opportunity to roam.

It would free them up, safe in the knowledge that the defence is adequately shielded.

While he would be an unspectacular signing on the surface, he would allow the club’s forward players the security they need to run off the leash and make things happen.

With the flair boasted by Anderson, Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic, this has been a long time coming; the signing of Lobotka could be exactly what West Ham need to get back to playing the entertaining, attacking football they are known for.

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According to Italian publication Tutto Mercato Web, Leicester are interested in Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic.

The report claims that his stay with the club is unlikely to continue and therefore he could be on the move.

Last week Manchester United were touted as a possible destination in a swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku but that offer was rejected, per Gazzetta dello Sport.

However, it now looks as though another English club in Leicester could be where he’s playing his football next term.

Perisic is a hugely experienced professional, earning 82 caps for Croatia as he helped take them to the World Cup final in Russia last year. He was among the goals during that tournament as he bagged three.

The 30-year-old is a hugely reliable figure and found the back of the net on eight occasions in Serie A last term.

He isn’t the first wide player to have been linked with a move to the King Power this summer though after reports emerged regarding Andros Townsend and Bertrand Traore.

A move for Perisic would surely eclipse those signings but what do those at Football FanCast towers make of a potential transfer to Leicester?

Ben Goodwin:

“Perisic would be an unbelievable coup for the Foxes. He has performed in Serie A, the Champions League and at international level, scoring goals already this summer when he bagged one and set one up against Wales last weekend. The 30 year-old is supremely athletic, never stops running and would become an instant fan favourite at the King Power Stadium.”

Charles Jones:

“Leicester’s recent policy of signing talented youngsters has been working a treat at the King Power Stadium, but they should make an exception for Perisic. The 30-year-old has proven himself to be one of the most talented players in Europe, and he would instantly improve any Premier League team.”

Was Gareth Southgate wrong to overlook potential England stars from Palace, Leicester and Saints? Fan discuss “big club bias” in the video below…

Harry Sherlock:

“Perisic is ageing and he’s not exactly the talent he once was. Leicester have an exceptional core of young players and bringing in the Croatian is only likely to stunt the development of Harvey Barnes, perhaps their most promising talent. It’s a no from me.”

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According to The Sun, Crystal Palace are the subject of a potential takeover bid from four groups which include former Manchester City owner and Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

What’s the deal, then?

Steve Parish has owned The Eagles since 2010 after he and his group ‘CPFC 2010’ saved them from liquidation.

The opportunity for a takeover arose after American’s Josh Harris and David Blitzer decided to sell their shares in the club.

But it will be difficult for Shinawatra to be able to get the takeover done given his past conviction for corruption back in 2008.

However, if the deal is to go through, the new owners would be taking on a £350million project which involves a £100m renovation of Selhurst Park and £30m towards the academy set-up.

Watch Crystal Palace Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

No shortage of strikers but a shortage of goals

Fresh new owners who back Roy Hodgson in the transfer window could put an end to their torrid times without a prolific goalscorer.

The London side’s top marksman in the Premier League last season was Luka Milivojevic with 12 goals.

Michy Batshuayi was Palace’s highest-scoring striker with just six goals, while Christian Benteke struggled again as he netted a solitary one.

The club also had Connor Wickham on their books, however the former Sunderland man featured very little, making just six appearances and failing to score a single goal.

If Palace sell Wan Bissaka and Zaha, will they be in another relegation battle? One fan gives his opinion in the video below…

On top of that, Alexander Sorloth was sent out on loan to Gent after scoring just one goal in 16 outings in the first half of the campaign.

All of these failings have resulted in Hodgson desperately needing a man to lead the line, and new owners could help him solve that problem – in fact, it should be one of their first priorities.

Paris Saint-Germain have approached Manchester United over a possible Neymar swap deal for Paul Pogba, as per the Independent.

It seems Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain are ready to cut their losses on Neymar, who they signed from Barcelona for an astronomical £200million last summer. And while Manchester United have been contacted, as one of the few other clubs in the world who can afford his demands, it is understood that chief executive Ed Woodward has rejected the opportunity as he feels it would be ‘far too expensive to justify’.

However, should the deal be sweetened, and the two clubs sit down to discuss surely one of the biggest transfer deals of all time, then here’s a look at some potential knock-on effects.

Same old problems

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to take a step away from Manchester United’s unidentifiable transfer policy and a step towards the club’s core principals and values; young, promising, talented and passionate.

Neymar ticks just two of those boxes. He’s a superstar in the same way that Paul Pogba is; one that comes with plenty of baggage to say the least.

Indeed, there are absolutely no assurances that, should the move happen, and when the dust settles, that Neymar would still be giving it his all. He missed 18 games through injury towards the end of the recently completed season, which saw PSG claim just a domestic title, and faces further time on the side-line due to two three-game bans, one of which was awarded for insulting the referee after the Manchester United game and another for another for clashing with a fan in the wake of PSG’s loss in the French Cup final back in April.

It’s the kind of controversy and trouble Manchester United need less of at the moment as they focus all their attention and effort on climbing back up the table.

Youth suffers

This is a big one.

Manchester United have historically built their success around one key principal: to promote youth and provide them with an opportunity to flourish. Signing Neymar would jeopardise these efforts.

Indeed, a club don’t sign a star like the Brazilian to sit on the bench – no. Simply by virtue of cost, which would be astronomical we’re sure, Neymar would need to be the first name on the team sheet. Irrespective of form, he would take precedent of anyone else. That means less opportunities for the likes of Angel Gomes, Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood, all of whom will be hoping to feature more prominently under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The club have to ask themselves, is it worth throwing away their careers for the sake of a player you’d likely get precious few assurances from? The answer should be no, every single time.

Ole loses faith

One thing is for certain: if Neymar did sign for Manchester United, it wouldn’t be at the Norwegian’s command.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made his intentions very clear this summer in signing Swansea talent Daniel James. The Welshman is what we’d called a Manchester United signing for reasons stated earlier; young, pacey, willing and passionate.

In contrast, when unnatural deals for players like Neymar are discussed, it implies that there is a worrying disconnect between the manager and the commercial side of the club. That money, not football, is driving the club’s movements, and the likes of Ed Woodward – who was recently attacked by pundit Danny Higginbotham for his unwillingness to appoint a director of football despite having no previous experience in the game – is strong-arming the manager.

How long would that kind of dynamic last before Solskjaer loses faith in the relevancy of his position?

Not a good place to be.

Manchester United fans, do you agree with our predictions? Let us know in the comments below…

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Celtic supporters have been left impressed by teenage talent Armstrong Okoflex after his performance in the club’s first pre-season match of the summer.

The Hoops turned out against Austrian minnows SC Pinkafeld on Wednesday evening, winning handsomely 6-1 despite going behind in the match during the first half.

Having equalised through the returning Leigh Griffiths by the interval, Neil Lennon’s team went on to score five second half goals, with the majority of the players on the pitch coming from the club’s academy and reserve teams.

Celtic fans aren’t happy about Arsenal’s bid for one of their key players…

It was a great chance for Celtic fans to see young players in action live on the club’s TV channel, with players such as Okoflex, Mikey Johnston and Calvin Miller impressing most.

Okoflex, who is still just 17 years of age, signed from Arsenal last summer but has not yet made his senior debut in a competitive match. He was named on the bench for Celtic’s final league game of the season in May.

He was one of the players who netted against the Austrians, making a clever run into the box and deftly finishing over the oncoming goalkeeper.

Watch Celtic Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Celtic fans are excited about his progress and took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his performance…